Roy Keane has been asking Sunderland to draw inspiration from their past but, for the first time in a while, the Black Cats can look forward to the future with a smile on their faces.

Those who look back will not believe their eyes. Keane's side is literally nothing like the team which donned the red-and-white a month ago, but even those who remain from that under-achieving side have been transformed.

There were plenty of reminders of the past for Keane at Elland Road last night, none more painful than seeing the away dressing room where, nine years ago, his season was over and his whole career threatened.

The home fans would not let him forget it, or his association with Manchester United, with Alf Inge Haaland's name echoing around the stadium for the first time in years. But by the end of the first half, the home supporters' attention turned to the man in their own dug-out, with calls for Kevin Blackwell's head.

It was easy to see why the massive East Stand was almost as empty as the away end was packed. Sunderland won 3-0 but it was a hammering.

While Leeds were as unimaginative as the chants of fans, the Black Cats stroked the ball around with assurance under the watchful eye of former chairman Bob Murray.

The opening goal was a perfect example, the only surprise being that it took 29 minutes. David Connolly played a clever pass to Robbie Elliott which demanded the left-back join the attack and, when Elliott returned the ball, the striker weighted it to Liam Miller on the right. The Irishman's scuffed shot into the far corner was hardly befitting of the move, nor a very good way to repay the club which rebuilt his career last season, but Miller deserved it for a lively performance.

Miller's changing places with Dean Whitehead was accompanied by two alterations of personnel as Keane shuffled his pack, Daryl Murphy and Neill Collins in from the cold, the latter in the unaccustomed position of right-back. The men they replaced, Rory Delap and Chris Brown, were left out of the 16-man squad.

Murphy, in particular, did himself a power of good, instantly striking up a good understanding with his compatriot Connolly. The man who as recently as three weeks ago seemed the one shining light on Wearside was a threat throughout and almost on the scoresheet when he curled his shot just wide in the 18th minute after yet more good build-up play.

Even more impressive than Connolly and Miller was Graham Kavanagh, who was himself rewarded when he volleyed Whitehead's straight ball down the inside right channel.

When Elliott, a substitute for Connolly, got on the scoresheet three minutes after the break, a mauling was on the cards. If its creation was basic, Murphy flicking on a Ben Alnwick kick, its execution more than made amends.

Injuries were the only blot on the horizon and it took Stephen Elliott's collapse to the turf in the 58th minute to draw Keane from his dug-out. The manager's concern was no doubt amplified by his own memories. With Connolly and Whitehead also forced off, it was Sunderland's one disappointment. But with the size of squad currently at Keane's dispoal, he could hardly be better placed to deal with it.

Even though the hosts were granted the lions' share of possession once Sunderland went 3-0 in front, Alnwick's only save came after an offside flag had been raised.

Whitehead, pushed up as an auxiliary second striker by Stephen Elliott's departure, found himself the furthest forward when Sunderland broke in the 70th minute but after nutmegging Paul Butler, he was unable to break away. Having skippered his side through the bad times, Whitehead deserves to enjoy the good times.

The Black Cats had rediscovered their appetite for goals, Kavanagh yet again bursting on to the end of a long ball to sting Tony Warner's hands.

His cheeky backheel in the centre circle, though, was a more telling reflection of the state of affairs as was the rapturous ironic applause from the home fans when Leeds managed a late shot or even a free-kick.

Liam Lawrence joined the party with a backheel of his own to start a one-two but he was offside when he collected the return.

That Sunderland were able to coast towards the line, however, was remarkable in itself. To his long list of qualities Keane can now add ghostbuster.